UK: Police charge man with lawmaker’s murder

LONDON (AA) - British police have charged a 52-year-old man with the murder of Jo Cox, the Labour Party lawmaker who was gunned down in her electoral district Thursday.

Thomas Mair, who was arrested shortly after Cox was repeatedly shot and stabbed in the northern English town of Birstall, will face a number of criminal charges when he appears in court Saturday.

Detective Superintendent Nick Wallen, the West Yorkshire police officer leading the investigation, said in a statement early Saturday: "We have now charged a man with murder, grievous bodily harm, possession of a firearm with intent to commit an indictable offence and possession of an offensive weapon.

"Thomas Mair, 52, of Birstall, will appear at Westminster [in London] Magistrates Court today (Saturday 18 June)."

Police said an unnamed 77-year-old man who "bravely intervened" to assist Cox as she was attacked is in a stable condition in hospital after being injured in the abdomen.

The death of Cox, a 41-year-old mother of two, has shocked Britain’s political establishment and halted all campaigning just five days before voters go the polls to decide whether the U.K. should remain a member of the European Union.

Campaign events, street stalls, and rallies will remain suspended through the country Saturday. Britain Stronger in Europe, the group calling for a vote to remain in the EU, said in a message to volunteers that its canvassing would resume Sunday "not least in Jo’s memory".

A special election will be held in the coming weeks to fill Cox’s vacant Batley and Spen parliamentary seat. Britain’s governing Conservatives and opposition parties have announced they will not contest the vote, giving Labour a potential free run to retain it.